SMST: Deep Space Moon! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: This story takes place during Seasons 1 through 3 of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". "The Ranma Trek Chronicles" takes place during Seasons 4 through 7.
Author's Note: This story is designed to be short, and will focus mostly on Sailor Moon, though Ranma Saotome (of "Ranma ½") will make a cameo from time-to-time. As always, C&C are welcomed.
Part 13
Later, Quark pays a visit to see Usagi in her office…
"Mr. Quark, how can help you today?" Usagi asked. "Don't tell me you need to see a counselor…"
"Perish the thought, Counselor Tsukino," Quark said dismissively. "Although, considering the fact that I have to deal with Rom and his idiot nephew…"
"Now, now," Usagi said. "There are no idiots; just intellectually challenged."
"That, too," Quark said, as he sits down. "Look, I need to talk to you about an important manner regarding the Grand Nagus."
"Ah, Grand Nagus Zek," Usagi said, as she nods her head.
"You know him?" Quark asked in surprise.
"During my previous assignment, early on, my ship and crew ran into your people for the first time, on an official basis," Usagi said.
"Yes, one of my cousins, DaiMon Letek, mentioned having a run-in with the Federation flagship," Quark replied. "But go on…"
"So, anyway, it was during that time where my old skills as a diplomat came into play," Usagi said. "I worked with the Enterprise's ship's counselor into hammering an initial agreement as a foundation for further contact. One thing led to another, and I had acquired a seat on the Ferengi Stock Exchange."
"You don't say," Quark said in surprise.
"Honest. I arranged it so that the diplomats on both sides would have equal footing."
"I see. Doing that would force my people to make some concessions in order to get that seat back."
"Yep, which I never did, I might add."
"That would explain why the Grand Nagus is here," Quark mused.
"You think that's why he's here?"
"It has to be. I mean, why would a man as busy as he would want to come to such a backwater place?"
"What else do you think Zek would want?"
"The only other thing that the Grand Nagus might want is my bar. But…he would have sent someone else to acquire it, rather than be here to acquire it himself."
"It seems as if you have a mystery on your hands," Usagi said, as she typed away on her computer pad…
"I got it," Quark said, as he snapped his fingers. "Why don't you come to a dinner I am having with the Grand Nagus?"
"Um, I don't know…"
"It'll be fun, counselor. And maybe you can, you know, use your talents to get the right kind of info out of the Grand Nagus."
"Mr. Quark, I happen to be a married woman," Usagi said haughtily. "I don't do that sort of thing…anymore."
"What are you talking about?" Quark asked. "I just want you to observe what's going on as my guest."
"Oh. Ohhhhh. Sure. I think I can do that."
"Huh," Quark said, as he produced a drop sweat.
Just then, Sisko enters Usagi's office.
"Counselor," Sisko said, as he looks around, and then at Quark. "I'm sorry…I didn't know you had company-"
"Don't worry commander, I'm done," Quark said, as he gets up. He then turns towards Usagi.
"Thanks, and see you tonight."
With that, the Ferengi tavern owner leaves Usagi's office.
"What was that all about?" Sisko asked.
"I really can't get into that, sir," Usagi said. "It's a patient confidentiality agreement, of course."
"I see. Just remember that your confidentiality agreement does not supersede the safety of this station, Counselor."
"Of course, sir. So, what can I do for you?"
"Well, I need your advice on how to deal with Jake and his friend Nog."
"Ah," Usagi said, as she turns to see a recent photograph of herself, her husband Ranma and their daughter Aikiko, which on a nearby shelf. "Sir, did you know that I'm a parent?"
"No, I didn't know that," Sisko said, as he sat down in a seat in front of the station's counselor.
"Well, I am. Even as I speak, she is living with her father and her father's…girlfriend, and their daughter."
"I don't understand."
"Long story short: an alien entity named Lianna—member of the ancient 'Guardians of the Universe'—selected Ranma to be her personal 'Green Lantern', which resulted in them being romantically involved…and a daughter named Rankiko to boot."
"I knew that Saotome was a bit of a ladies' man, from Qurzon Dax," Sisko said. "I'm sorry for your marital difficulties."
"Don't be," Usagi said with a smile. "It's a hassle dealing with other women, but my relationship's unique dynamic does allow me to have some…fun."
"With Jadzia Dax, I don't doubt it."
"Indeed. But, anyway, ultimately, I have to trust myself enough to know that whatever parenting I gave to my daughter, before I left my last posting, will be enough to guide her. Sure, Ranma will always be there, but his primary responsibility is to his job as the Enterprise-D's Chief Conn Officer."
"I see. So, you're saying that…I should trust Jake in his dealings with Nog?"
"Sure. That doesn't mean you don't look over Jake's shoulder now and again, but that you should trust his judgment when it comes to him picking his friends."
"Huh."
"And besides, who is to say that Jake's relationship with Nog can't make Nog a better person?"
"He's Ferengi, counselor."
"He's a boy without a mother, Commander. The difference is that Nog's mother, unlike Jake's mother, merely left Rom purely for mercantile reasons."
"I see," Sisko said with a nod. "Tell me, do you have a mother?"
"Commander, my mother died thousands of years ago."
"Oh. Well, thank you for your time, Counselor."
"With that, Sisko leaves Usagi to ponder her thoughts alone.
"Oh, dear," Usagi said with a sigh, as she thought of Serenity, Frigga and Ikuko, all three having been incarnations of each other, and all three being her mother.
"I don't want to cry," Usagi said with a sniff. "I got to hold it together…for my children…"
Pause.
"I want my mother!" Usagi said, as she bursts into tears. She then sat back down in her chair, and sobbed with head down…
"Bunny?" said a familiar voice.
Usagi looks up to see Dax standing at the doorway.
"Oh, hi," Usagi said, as she wiped away the tears. "Sorry about that…"
"What's wrong?" Dax said, as she sits down in front of Usagi's desk.
"It's…nothing."
"Don't tell me that. Something is bothering you."
Usagi sighed, as she slouches in her chair.
"Dax, before you is a strong, experienced woman who've led both armies and nations," Usagi said. "I've fought tyrants and monsters, and yet I never had a chance to grow up as a normal person at all."
"You're talking about your past as 'Sailor Moon', right?" Dax asked.
"Not just that, Dax. Sure, I had to learn how to be responsible and all, but at least I had a family to remind me of what's it means to be human…"
Pause.
"Heh, I used to be annoyed by either my mother or little brother waking me up in the morning for school. I would…make excuses about why I didn't want to school, and be yelled for thinking such things. I would think about how nice enough it would be to leave home, so I could get married and be a housewife, so that I would never have to go to school. And why not? I was going to be the future ruler of humankind…"
Pause.
"How naïve I was. Just when I had vanquished Chaos, I end up being thrown to another era, where I had to fend for myself at age 17 years of age."
"With Ranma," Dax offered.
"Yeah. But we weren't interested in each other at that time. For one, we both had significant others that we loved dearly; for another, we were both scared as to whether or not we could even return home."
"Ranma was…scared?"
"Well, he wouldn't put it that way, but he was definitely pensive and nervous of each other."
"I see."
"But in effect, our old lives were over. Heck, I couldn't be a magical girl, nor could Ranma be a martial artist, since there was no need to be either. We ended up in Paradise, and had to find new meaning for ourselves."
Pause.
"But there was always a hope that one day, we could return to our old lives, and see our loved ones again. How silly of me to think that now. We…we're never going to go home again, and we're never going to see our friends and family again."
"What about the Court of Neo-Queen Serenity at Crystal Tokyo?" Dax asked.
"I've tried that, but no one, save for Princess Setsuna, and she refuses to interact with me beyond a 'need-to-know' basis."
"How so?"
"Setsuna doesn't interact with me out of fear that doing so will my ruin my chances at returning home. Feh, like that is going to help. I'm married with children, now. What am I going to say to the people we left behind? 'Gee, I'm glad to be back, and all, but I'm afraid I can't be the same Usagi you've all know and love."
"I'm sure it won't come to that," Dax said. "Look, those back in your home era won't judge you for what has happened, if they truly care about you. As for this era: you will always have the comfort and support of your friends and family, based upon the goodwill and support you've built up over the years."
"Really?" Usagi asked.
"Really. Don't sell yourself short, and always remind yourself that your parents raised you the right way, and that the best way to honor them is by being a good person who is dedicated to the betterment of others."
"Awww, thanks," Usagi said, as she smiled tearfully. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me, Dax."
"Hey, you're my Bunny, you know…"
Dax gave Usagi a peck on the cheek, before standing up.
"I'll see you around, Counselor."
And, with that, Dax leaves Usagi's office.
"Ah, if only I wasn't married with children," Usagi sighed, before returning to work…
Later, Usagi has a private meeting with Grand Nagus Zek…
"Come in, come in," the Nagus said, as Usagi is ushered into his private suite. "I'm glad that you are here."
"Um, thanks?" Usagi said, as she looks around the room. She saw Quark and Rom, as well as the Nagus very tall, personal Hupyrian bodyguard named "Maihar'du". Hupyrian tend to be tall humanoids with wrinkle faces, but were more known for their fierce loyalty and their oath of silence…
"No, the honor is mine, Your Majesty."
"Pardon?"
"I do know that you are still the Empress Dowager of the Romulan Star Empire."
"But, I'm not…anymore."
"Actually, you still are, according to my contacts on Romulus. Until your daughter T'Usa comes of age to take her father's throne, you do have considerable clout. Not even the Praetor is willing to risk a full revolt of the Senate to undo Emperor Shiarkiek's last will and testament, thanks to what happened to his predecessor…"
Usagi nods her head in reply. Originally, she and the crew of the Enterprise-C had been captured by Romulans, after a Klingon outpost was saved from total annihilation at the hands of the Romulan attackers. A woman by the name of Tasha Yar, from an alternate, future timeline, had agree to marry a Romulan Admiral in order to save the lives of the crew execution, while Usagi agreed to marry the Romulan emperor for their safe passage to freedom. Two demi-Romulans were born: Sela and T'Usa. The two were like sisters, and were happy, until Tasha Yar broke her word and attempted to leave her husband, forcing the authorities to execute her (although, in reality, Tasha Yar did not die, but rather was incorporated into the Tasha Yar of the prime timeline). Meanwhile, Shiarkiek was forced to exile Usagi and her daughter for political reasons, until it was safe for T'Usa to ascend to the throne as his rightful heir. No one would know that a Federation starship named "Voyager" would end up accessing a micro-wormhole into their past, nor would no one know that they would contact Usagi while she was still in exile with her daughter. And definitely no one would know that T'Usa would be sent to the future to live with the crew of the Voyager, while under the watch of Yeoman Ranko Tendo. Thus, with T'Usa out of the reach of the critics of the Emperor, who wanted to harm the girl, Usagi was finally able to go back home, after a detour or two.
Still, Usagi was still the Emperess Dowager, due to the fact that Shiarkiek still loved her…
"Since you know me so much, sir, what can I do for you?" Usagi asked.
"Well, my dear, I would like to make a deal with you on an important matter," Zek said. "But first, let's eat-!"
Tbc.